Ice and glaciers have carved the landscape for most of our journey here in Southeast Alaska. From Chatham Strait to Glacier Bay, our trip has followed the path of the ice that has created this landscape. Today, we spent the entire day in Endicott Arm which would not have been possible without the force of ice. Over time, the Dawes glacier has carved this incredible fjord and allowed us to penetrate deep into the wilderness and a world of intense beauty.
Before breakfast, we crossed the bar, or terminal moraine, and entered the glacial landscape. Majestic blue icebergs were floating far from the glacier, a sign of what was to come. As we made our way farther in, the walls got steeper and the waterfalls more numerous. A few humpback whales were feeding along with a following of gulls. We found a sheltered bay and it was time to kayak.
Paddling a kayak in this landscape is a magic way to experience it. Silently cruising along, we nosed up to giant waterfalls and were quickly dwarfed. In the other direction, we approached the mudflats of the outflow from a distant glacier. Bald eagles flew above us while harbor seals swam amongst us. Peace and tranquility at its finest. Soon, it was time to return to the ship and explore the waters in a different way: the polar plunge! A few brave or silly souls made a quick jump into the chilly waters and had a lot of fun doing it.
For our afternoon, we explored near the face of the Dawes glacier, the creator of this entire place. Setting out in our small boats, we approached the glacier and were mesmerized by its size and beauty. A monstrous wall of ice rose a few hundred feet out of the water and the changing light conditions danced on the face. Numerous calvings occurred, and the resounding noises echoed off the walls. The popping of the ice around us further added to the symphony. The sun came out; the skies mostly cleared revealing one of the most beautiful places on earth. What a grand finale to our week in this landscape of glaciers and ice.
